Suspension-bridge.



No. 629,935. Patented Aug. I, [899.

r n. H. STURGIS.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

(Application filed July 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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No. 629,935. Patented Aug, I, |a99.

- n. H.-STURGIS.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

(Application flied July 11, 1898.)

(N0 llodei.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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N0. 629,935. Pate nfced Au i, I899.

' N. H. STURGIS.

fSUSPENSION BRiDfiE.

(Application filed July 11, 1898.)

3 Sheets-sheaf a.

(Na Model.)

UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

NELSONTI'. STURGIS, OF GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

SUSPENSION-emcee.

srnorrrca'rion formingpart of Letters Patent No. 629,935, dated August1,- 1899.

Application filed my 11, 189 8. Serial No. 685,608. (No model.)

To all; whom, it nanny concern.-

Be it known that l, NELSON H. STURGIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Guthrie, in the county of Logan and Territory of Oklahoma,have invented a new and useful Suspension-Bridge, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in suspensionbridges; and theobject that I have in View is to improve the construction of parts toenable the threading or running of the wires which form the cables withease and facility and without passing the reels or spools around theelements of the bridge structure.

A further object of the invention is to join the railing andjoist-cables together by devices which produce a camber or arch in saidcables and cause them to pull or strain against each other, so as torender the structure exceedingly stiff and rigid and reduce verticalvibration thereof to a minimum.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide novel means forsuspending the needlebeams from the main bowed cables and to enhold themain and lateral truss-cables in proper relation to each other, so as todispense with the use of individual devices for uniting the hanger-rods,the truss-cables, and the main cables together.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combinationof elements and in the construction and arrangementof parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment 'thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming'apart of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof a suspensionbridge constructed in accordance with the principles ofthis invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation ad jacentto the vertical columns at one shore end of the structure. Fig. 3 is aplan view illustrating a fragment of the bridge with the flooring partlybroken away. Fig. 4 is plan View of the foun datiou on which the columnsare erected.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the upper part of one columnand the cap therefor which constitutes asaddle for one of the mainsuspension-cables. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of thehanger-rods which receive the main cable and lateral truss-cables. Fig.8 is a detail view of the clamp for use in connection with the hangerrodshown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of one of the angularbrackets adapted to be fitted to one of the needlebeams. Figs. 10, 11,and 12 are detail views of various forms of clamps for uniting differentparts of the bridge structure together, as will hereinafter appear. Fig.13 represents a cross-sectional elevation of a modified construction ofthe bridge, showing footwalks on opposite sides of a main driveway.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts ineach ofthe several figures. of the drawings.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate the foundations which are provided at theshore ends of a suspension-bridge constructed in accordance withmyinvention. As is usual in bridgebuilding, the foundations are laid inexcavations on opposite sides of a stream or chasm in order to securestability to the structure,

and the space between the transversely-sepa- I rated foundations isclosed by a filling-wall 3, which joins with the foundations andprevents'the dirt filling 4 fromdisplacement in the direction toward thebank of thestream which is spanned by the bridge. On the ion ndations 12 are erected the vertical posts or columns 5, arranged in pairs onopposite banks, and these posts or columns are spaced apart equal to thewidth of the bridge. To add strength to the structure, I employ the metallic foot-plates 6, which are firmly secured to the foundation andreceive the columns, and the upper ends of these columns are surmountedby the metallic cap-pieces 7, which are secured firmly to said columnsin any suitable way. Each cap-piece is cast, prefments 11.

I prefer to employ tubular or hollow columns made of metal andcontaining a filling 9 of concrete or other suitable substance. It Willbe understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the employment ofmetallic concrete-filled columns.

10 designates the main suspension-cables, which are arranged in pairsand extend between the bridge columns or posts 5 on opposite sides ofthe bridge. These cables are fitted and held in the curved saddles 8 ofthe column cap-pieces, and attheir ends they are anchored by deviceswhich will be presently described, while the portion of the cablesbetween the posts is allowed to bow or sag in a downward direction, asis usual in the art. In the approaches to the bridge on opposite sidesof the two pairs of columns 5 are erected the anchor-abutments 11, andthrough each abutment are led or carried the main cables 10 and thejoist-cables, presently referred to, which cables are attachedindividually to dead-men. The main cables 10 are fastened to thedead-men, which lie in rear of the anchor-abutments and are concealed bythe filling 13, that covers the anchor-abutments.

In my bridge structure I aim to minimize the use of wood as much aspossible and to substitute therefor metal in the form of wire cables,and to this end a series of joist-cables 1e are stretched between theshore ,ends of the bridge and attached to the dead-men 15, which areheld in place by the anchor-abut- These joist-cables are arranged insubstantially the same horizontal plane and extend longitudinally of thebridge, and said cables pass between the columns at a suitable heightabove the foundations. The ends of the joist-cables at each end of thebridge are fastened to a dead-man 15, which is common to the series ofcables, and the two dead-men for the joist-cables bear against theanchor-abutments 11 above the dead-men 12 for the main suspension-cable,all the parts of the anchorages being covered by the filling 13. Eachdead-man may consist of a metallic tube filled with concrete or itsequivalent; but the particular construction of this element may bevaried at the option of the skilled constructor.

With each main suspension-cable I employ a series of verticalhanger-rods 16, and the hanger-rods for the two cables 10 are attachedcoincidently thereto, so as to lie in the same Vertical plane onopposite sides of the bridge. The hanger-rods carry the needle-beams 17,which liein horizontal positions to sustain the flooring of thestructure, and these hangerrods serve to attach the angle-brackets 18to- 'structed to provide for the threading or passage of the wires whichform the cables without the necessity for carrying the reels or spoolsaround the ends of the needle-beams,

thereby promoting the erection of the bridge and contributing to thestrength and stability thereof.

Each hanger rod is made from a single length of metal of the properlength to extend between the main cable and the needle-beam, and theupper end of this hanger-rod is peculiarly fastened or constructed forthe reception of the main cable and the lateral trusscable. Saidhanger-rod has its upper end bent or doubled upon itself to form a loop19 and is then bent or doubled in the opposite direction to produce anauxiliary loop 20. In bending said hanger-rod the loop 19 is carriedadjacent to one face of the straight length of the rod; butit does notcome in contact therewith, thusleaving a contracted throat or opening21, forming a passage to the eye of the loop 19. In a similar manner thefree extremity of the hanger-rod which forms the auxiliary loop 20 isbent inwardly toward the loop 19 to leave an opening or throat 22, whichcommunicates with the eye of the loop 20, and the described method ofbending the hangerrod to form the two loops thereon produces the throatsor openings 21 22 at opposite ends of the respective eyes formed by saidloops 19 20, the throat 21 to the eye-formed loop 19 opening in adownward direction, while the throat 22 to the eye-formed loop 20 opensin an upward direction. This construction of the duplex eye-formed upperextremity of the hanger-rod provides for the ready passage of the wireswhich form the cables, and to confine the main and lateral truss-cablesin the loops of each hanger-rod I employ a single clamping-clip 23. Thisclip is of substantially U shape, as shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings,audit is adjusted or applied externally to the looped end of thehanger-rod, so as to lie across the throats 21 '22 to the eyes of saidrod. The clip lies in a slightly-inclined position across the loops ofthe hanger-rod for its doubled or closed endto bear against the end ofthe rod which forms the loop 20, while to the threaded extremities ofthis clip is fitted an apertured plate 24, that bears against the loop19 and receives the nuts 25, which are screwed on the threadedextremities of the clip. The lower end of the straight length of saidhangerrod is externally threaded at 26 to receive a clamping-nut 27, andsaid end of the rod is adapted to pass through the needle-beam and oneof the angular brackets fitted thereto.

Each angular bracket 18 is cast in a single piece of metal ofright-angular form, thus producing a vertical member 28 and a horizontalmember29. In the production of the bracket a transverse jaw 30 isproduced on the lower side of the horizontal bracket member 29, and thisjaw is formed with a slot or opening 31, which forms a curvedbearingface against which the wires constituting the lateral truss-cableare adapted to bear when said cable is confined within said jaw 30. Asimilar jaw 32 is formed on the outer face of the vertical bracketmember 28 for the re IIO ception of the wires adapted to form thehorizontal truss-cable which extends beneath the bridge-floor, and thisjaw 32 has an opening or slot 33, that permits of the ready introductionof the wires in the formation of the horizontal truss-cables. Coincidentopenings 34 are produced vertically inthe needle-beam and the horizontalmember of the angular bracket for the reception of the threaded lowerextremity 26 on the hanger-rod, and the nut 2'7 is screwed on saidextremity of the hanger-rod to bear against the lower side of theangular bracket. This bracket thus serves a twofold purpose in that itanswers as a washer for the not of the hanger-rod and as a retainer forthe lateral and horizontal truss-cables provided on the side and beneaththe floor of the bridge, and said bracket, with the openings or slots inthe jaws thereof, en ables the wires forming said cables to be readilyfitted in the jaws without passing the spools or reels around the endsof the needlebeam.

The joist-cables are stretched above the needle-beams, which lie acrossthe length of the bridge, and upon these joist-cables is laid theflooring 35. I dispense with the employment of nails and screws inuniting the parts of the flooring together bythe employment of thestringers or rails 36, which are laid upon the planks forming theflooring 35. Two of these stringers are disposed at the respective endsof the floor-planks, and aceutral stringer is employed between the sidestringers. The stringers and floor-planks are united firmly together andto the joist-cables at proper intervals by the hook-bolts 37, which passthrough the stringers and certain of the planks and have their hooksengaged with the joist-cables at the sides of the bridge as well as atthe middle thereof. It is not necessary to pass the hook-bolts througheach floor-plank because the longitudinal stringers and the joistcablesbind the floor-planks firmly together, and hence I am able to employ thefasteningbolts 37.at intervals of from three to four feet.

38 designates the horizontal truss-cables,

which are arranged beneath the floor of the bridge and extend fromopposite sides thereof diagonally across the sections between theneedle-timbers and the pairs of hanger-rods. These truss-cables areformed by wires which are drawn from reels or spools and are led throughthe jaws 32 on the rear sides of the angular brackets, thus firmlyseating the truss-cables in position against displacement, and thetruss-cables cross each other, as shown by Fig. 3, the ends of saidcables being suitably secured in place. The truss-cables at oppositesides of the bridge are carried or led through the jaws 30 at the endsof the angu lar brackets and through the auxiliary loops at the upperends of the hanger-rods. These lateral truss-cables 40 are formed bywires which are drawn from reels or spools and fitted in the jaws andthe loops 20 without passing the reels around the needletimbers and thehanger-rods, and said lateral truss-cables are arranged diagonally tocross in the center of the section between an adjacent pair ofhanger-rods lengthwise of the bridge. The ends of the truss-cables arefastened to the main cables or to the hangerrods by the end clamps 41,each of which consists of a clip that embraces the main cable and aclip-plate which is held in place by nuts that are screwed on thethreaded legs of the clip.

The sides of the bridge are formed without the use of timbers, nails,screws, or bolts. In lieu of these devices I employ a series ofrailing-cables 42, each series of which cables lie in the same verticalplane on one side of the bridge and extend the full length thereof fromthe inclined sections of the main suspensioncables, as shown by Fig. 1.The railing-cables 42 are each formed of a plurality of wires which areattached to the inclined lengths of the main cables 10 by clamps 43.Each clamp consists of astrap which is bent to embrace the main cableand has one arm thereof extended at 44, the free extremity of the armbeing bent to produce a guide eye or loop 45. The clamp 43 is held inplace on the main cable and the strands of the railing-cable by aclip-plate 46, against which bears a nut or nuts 47, and the extendedhook or eye 45 of this clamp serves as a guide to the wire when it isdrawn from the reel or spool in the process of forming the cable 42. Theseries of cables 42 are not designed to be attached to the hanger-rods;but to strengthen the structure I prefer to attach the upperrailing-cable to the central portion of the bowed main cable 10 by aclamp 50, which unites the top railing-cable to the hanger-rods and themain suspension-cable at the lowermost portion of its bowed sectionbetween the pillars or columns.

The space between each pair of columns or posts 5 is braced by theemployment of trussed frames 48 49, arranged horizontally between theposts and each bolted solidly thereto, as at 50 51, whereby the posts orcolumns are maintained in parallel relation to each other and the partsare prevented from sagging or displacement under the strain andvibration of the structure.

As is usual in the art, camber is given to the lateral truss-cables 40and the series of horizontal joist-cables 14:. The employment of thehanger-rods having a threaded connection with the needle-beams and theangular brackets on which the floor-cables are supported makes the trussand joist-cables pull or strain against each other, and thereby gives tothe bridge structure additional stiftnessand rigidity, whereby thevertical vibration on the bridge is reduced to a minimum.

The wires forming the cables may be twisted together, if desired, orthey may be arranged according to the option of the builder.

It is evident that the flooring of the bridge I may be extended beyondthe vertical plane of the main cables, so that the bridge will beequipped with footwalks at each side of the main driveway, as shown byFig. 13 of the drawings. The foundations for the piers may be of masonryor of wood piling. Y

The bridge may of course be of any desired length, and it may consist oftwo or more spans, according to the width of the stream or the chasm.

The railing-cables may be and preferably are confined on the uprightposts or columns by hook bolts or clamps, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3,said bolts being of the form shown by Fig. 12.

Changes may be made in the form of some of the parts while theiressential features are retained and the spirit of the inventionembodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of allof the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In asuspension-bridge, the combination With columns, and anchored maincables, of hanger-rods fast with the main cables and carrying theneedle-beams, anchored j oistcables laid on the needle-beams, sidecables joined to the hanger-rods and fitted below the ends of theneedle-beams, horizontal trusscables fitted around the ends of theneedlebeams, and a floor laid on the joist-cables, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with columns and anchoredmain cables, of the needle-beams, hanger-rods connecting theneedle-beams and the main cables, the lateral truss-cables each carriedaround one end of each needle-beam and said cables arranged to crosseach other in the interval between each pair of needle-beams, the sidetruss-cables united to the hanger-rods and the needlebeams, andfloor-carrying joist-cables laid on the needle-beams and anchored beyondthe columns, substantially as described.

3. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with columns, and the maincables, of the hanger-rods united to the main cables, needlebeamscarried by the hanger-rods, truss-ca.- bles connected to theneedle-beams, joist-cables independent of the'truss-cables and laid onthe needle-beams, anchors for said joistcables, a flooringlaid on thejoist-cables, and clamping devices to make the flooring and joist-cablesfast one to the other, substantially as described.

4. In a suspension-bridge, a hanger-rod provided with independent loopsand a single clamp which embraces the hanger-rod and is adapted toprevent the displacement in the loops thereof of main and truss cables,substantially as described.

5. In a suspension-bridge, a hanger-rod hav ing its upper end bent toform independent loops each provided with an opening or throat, and aclip which spans both loops, in combination with a main cable fitted toone loop and a truss-cablefitted in the other loop, said clip arrangedto prevent the displacement of either cable from its loop, substantiallyas described.

6. In a suspension-bridge, ahangerrod bent at its upper end to form amain loop having a downwardly-opening throat and an auxiliary loop withan upwardly-opening throat, in combination with a main cable, atrusscable and a clip which embraces both loops of the hanger-rod andspans the throats thereof to prevent displacement of the cables therein,substantially as described.

7 In a suspension-bridge, the combination with main cables, thehanger-rods carrying needle-beams, truss-cables united to theneedle-beams and the hanger-rods, and railingcables independent of thetruss-cables and arranged alongside of the latter, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with columns, and theanchored main cables, of hanger-rods carrying needle-beams, trusscablesunited to the hanger-rods and the needle-beams, the railing-cablesindependent of the truss-cables and extending longitudinally of thebridgein substantially parallel relation one to the other and alongsideof the trusscables, and clamping devices to unite the railing-cables tothe end portions of the main cables, substantially as described.

9. A suspension-bridge comprising the colu runs, the anchor-abutments,the main cables fitted to the columns and connected with saidanchor-abutments, the joist-cables also connected with theanchor-abutments independently of the main cables, the hanger-rodsattached to the main cables, the needle-beams attached to thehanger-rods and supporting the joist-cables, the side and horizontaltrusscables fitted to the needle-beams, and the railing-cables attachedto the ends of the main cables, substantially as described.

10. In a suspension bridge, an angular bracket adapted to be fitted tothe needlebeam and provided on its horizontal and vertical members withjaws for the reception of truss-cables, substantially as described.

11. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with aneedle-beam, of anangular bracket fitted to said needle-beam to bear against the end faceand the bottom thereof and provided with jaws having openings or slots,a hangerrod attached to the needlebeam and the bracket, and cablesfitted to the jaws of said bracket, substantially as described.

12. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with a main cable, of aclamp attached to said main cable and provided with an extended guideand a railing-cable fitted to the clamp and having its individualstrands engaging with said guide during the formation of the cable,substantially as described.

13. In a suspension-bridge, the combination with the needle-beams and aseries of joist-cables fitted thereto, of a series of floorplanks laidon the joist-cables, the stringers laid upon the floor-planks and thefasteningstructure and each series of cables fitted in stringers to bindthe floor-planks firmly in the jaws of the hangers, substantially asdeplace, substantially as described. scribed.

14. In a suspension-bridge, the combina- In testimony that I claim theforegoing as 15 5 tion with main cables, a series of needlemyown I havehereto affixed mysignature in beams, and a series of hanger-rods, 0fanguthe presence of two witnesses, lar brackets fitted to theneedle-beams and T provided on their Vertical and horizontal LELSONSTURGIS' bolts attached to the joist-cables and the Witnesses:

JAMES N. HUGHES, N. J. JOHNSON.

faces with jaws having slots or openings, and 10 the two series of trnsscables arranged beneath the floor and at the sides of the bridge

